Two down, one to go

My active treatment for sarcoma has come to an end! I am only on surveillance now. My appointment today was great -- my stitches came out and my chest CT was clear. I won't need to visit the sarcoma clinic again for 3 months! Woohoo! They are referring me to a lymphedema specialist to help me combat the swelling. I'm also wearing a new thigh-high compression stocking and it feels great!

Of course, I am right in the middle of active treatment for breast cancer... but I am happy to be able to focus all of my attention on this department now. My dry run for radiation is tomorrow and my first dose is on Thursday. We're in Seattle on weekdays for the next 6 weeks... commuting home to Long Beach on most weekends.

I also had my first dose of Tamoxifen last night. The most common side effect is menopause (temporary of course)... so I may have hot flashes and mood swings to look forward to. But maybe not... we'll see how it goes.

Support

A great read...

Arm's Length: The Distance Between Friendship and Cancer

"Though arm's length may be a safe distance, embracing someone with cancer is far more rewarding in the end. Just think. If it were you whose life just flipped upside down, what kind of friends would you want? ... Be that friend."

If you're reading this, you're probably someone who has offered me great support... and for that I just want to say thanks. I've spent too much time bumming over those who have disappeared and don't check in or understand what I'm going through. I know I just need to change my perspective and be more appreciative of what I have... which is a small yet AMAZING core group of friends and family... and the best husband and baby girl in the world!!! 

Various updates

Skin:

I had 3 biopsies on Mon, 7/20.  Really enjoyed my new dermatologist. She is associated with UW, but has a private practice on Mercer Island. I will go back to her for the results and to have my stitches removed on Thurs, 7/30. She agreed that I need to continue my skin exams every 3 months.

Radiation:

Finally got a phone call from scheduling and I will begin radiation on Wed, 7/29. The first day is a dry run and my first actual dose will be the following day. If all goes well, I will be finished with radiation therapy on approximately 9/10.

Anti-hormone therapy:

My medical oncologist ordered my prescription for Tamoxifen, which I will need to take for 5-10 years. I am supposed to begin taking it immediately, but I am waiting to make sure its okay with my gynecologic oncologist who is following my large fibroid. Tamoxifen can sometimes encourage fibroids to grow and.......

Fibroid:

Due to rapid growth (2cm in the last 3 months), I have to have this fibroid removed in October when I'm all finished with radiation. This will be an abdominal myomectomy -- I had the same surgery back in October 2009 and it's much like a c-section without the reward. I knew this surgery was inevitable, especially if we want to try for another baby someday, but I am bummed it has to happen so soon. It will be my 5th surgery in the span of a year. Maybe it's better to just get everything done now, though. And just a reminder, we cannot try for another baby until I've been on Tamoxifen for 2 years. At that point, it's safe to take a break from the medication and resume taking it after the baby is born.

Next week:

Tuesday -- Sarcoma surveillance (chest CT & checkup -- happens every 3 months)

Wed -- Radiation dry run

Thurs -- First dose of radiation (to continue every weekday for 6 weeks)

Simulation

Today I had my breast radiation simulation (planning session).  Basically, they made a mold of my upper body in the position that I will be in for treatment each day to create an immobilization device. Then they put me through the X-ray machine for pictures of the treatment area. Then I had my pin-mark tattoos done on the edges of the area that will be treated. I have one on each rib cage and two down the center of my chest. That is the short version -- the link above explains it better! It took about an hour.

It takes about a week for my radiation oncologist and dosimetrist to work up my treatment plan. I will be getting a phone call around this time next week with a start date for my 6 weeks of treatment. I am guessing this will kick off sometime during the week of July 20th...?

Finally, I had a left-sided breast cancer... which means that extra special consideration is taken being that my heart (kind of an important organ) is behind the treatment area. It's likely that I will have to hold my breath through each dose of radiation for protection (see link).

So, that's the latest there... but I also met with my sarcoma specialist today for my surgery follow-up. My leg is looking good... it's healing very slowly because it has now been operated on 3x and radiated. It hasn't stopped bleeding yet... but it will in time. The great thing is that it FEELS much better after being irrigated! Full range-of-motion is still nowhere in sight... but I can tell that once the wound heals up, PT is going to be much easier this time around!

I am already coming up on my 3 month sarcoma surveillance, too. On July 28th, I'll have a lung CT (to make sure nothing has spread -- lungs are typically the first place sarcoma would go) and meet with my sarcoma team. These visits will continue for many years...

Oh, and in case anyone forgot that I still have to worry about melanoma... I have a skin check coming up on July 20th. I supposed to be having these every 3 months, but I haven't had one since January! I guess I've been busy???????